John samuel streeter



Oct. 8, 1929. J. 5. STREETER TIMING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 15, 1927 3 m ml.

hm hm 350mm John SStreeter I 002mm: 03.5 320 QPH. v

Gummy Patented Oct. 8, 192 9 UNITED STATES" PATENT omen TIMING APPARATUS Application filed November 15, 1927, Serial No. 233,465, and in the Union of South Africa April 29, 1927.

This invention relates to timing apparatus by which the time occupied by any object or objects passing two points may be recorded. The invention is particularly applicable to timing horse races, bicycle, automobile, foot,

or other races. The invention consists primarily of means for starting and stopping timing apparatus by causing the object or objects to be timed to interrupt a beam of light which shines across the track along which the objects move.

While the apparatus is designed to start and stop a clock, it will be described only in its relation to means for stopping the clock, since the same apparatus is used to start and stop it.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a race track, a showing the operation of my timing device 1 associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the wiring circuits, showing the amplifying units, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the apparatus.

In the drawings numeral 10 indicates a race track having a judges stand 11 and starters box 12.. A light 13 is positioned on' one side of the track adjacent the judges stand. Directly opposite the light on the other side of the race track is a cabinet 14 containing a selenium cell 15 and a, lens 16 and a screen 17 having a .small perforation 18- therein. The lamp 13 has a reflector 19 positioned back of it so as to direct the light directly across the race track where it is focused upon the selenium cell by means of the lens 16.

My invention makes use of the fact that a selenium cell has a low resistance when light is shining upon it. When the light is cut off the internal resistance of the cell is impulse is increased sufficiently to operate 9.

increased. I use this cell in circuit with anrel'ay switch for starting or stopping a timing clock on the race track.

As shown in Figure 2, the cell 15 is placed 1n circuit with a battery 20- by means of wires 2l.and 22. The wire 22 connects to a switch 23. The other contact of the switch connects with the negative side of a battery by-means of line 24. The wire 21 connects through a resistance element 25 with a line 26 connected to the positive side of the battery 20. The battery 20 is of low voltage, here shown as twenty volts.

The line 26 is attached at 27 to a grid 28. I

Numeral 29 indicates a relay coil which controls the opening and closing of the switch 23.. Numeral 30 indicates a barrel switch having four contact surfaces, A, B, O, and D, which will be described more in detail later. A batter 31 has a line 32 connected to its positive si e leading to a point'33 which makes contact with the barrel switch 30. A line 34 has a point 35 contacting with the surface of the barrel switch, the wire 34 connecting to a magnet .which is energized to reset the race track timing clock.

in engagement with the barrel switch to a relay switch 38. A line 39 leads from a contact point on the relay switch 38 to a point A wire 36 leads from a contact point 37 is broken by opening the switch 45 the clock is stopped. I may use any suitable electrically operated'impulse clock. Preferably I use a clock which records time in fifths of a second to a maximum of thirty minutes. Since electrically operated impulse clocks are well known, further description is deemed unnecessary. 7

Line 46 leads to the starting gate or starting pistol. This starting gate or starting pistol simply operates to close the circuit through the wires 46 and 49.' The wire 49 is joined at 50 to a trip mechanism 51. A

coil spring 52 is biased to move the trip 51 out of engagement with a notch on an armature 53. A relay winding 55 controls the armature 53 to pull it away from the trip 51. A wire joined at 5.7 to the wire 56 connects with a switch contact 58 adjacent a;

similar contact 59 on the armature 53. --A light 60 in this lineis lit when the contacts 58 and 59 areclosed and the timing clock is operating. A wire 61 leads from the switch 45 and connects at 62 with the armature 53.

' A wire 63 on the negative pole of the battery which the impulse of a selenium cell is amplifled. The amplifying units are well known in radio and further description is therefore believed unnecessary. A wire 73 connects with one side of the relay 29 by means of which the switch 23 is operated. The opposite side of this relay is connected through line 74 with a wire 36. Resistance elements 77 and 78 connect the filaments of the cells 71 and 72 respectively with the line 7 4. Wires 79 and 80 connect wires 61 and 36 respectively with the lamp 13 in the reflector 19. Wires 81 and 82 connect lines 36 and 47 respectively with a gong which sounds upon the starting of a race. Any kind of electric gong will meet the requirements of the .invention.

The barrel switch 30 has insulation at 83, 84 'and 85, so that when rotated to position D contact will be made only through wires 32 and, 34; when in position A, through 32 and 36'; when in position B through 32, 36 and 39; when in position C the contact 33 on wire 32 alone will engage the barrel switch, and current will be shut off from all the circuits.

In operation the starter is preferably located in the stand at 12. -"The barrel switch is rotated to permit contact B to be engaged by wires 32, .39 and 36. This closes the circuit from the battery 31 through the wire 32,"contact B on the barrel switch, through the wire 36, through the wire 80 to the lamp 13, the circuit being closed through the line 79, wire 61 and wire 63' back to the battery 31. The circuit is also closed from the battery 31 through line 63, wire 61, wire 67 and returning through wire 74, wire 36, element B, through the barrel switch and line 32 to the battery 31 to energize therelay coil 29 to close the relay switch 23 to close the circuit with the selenium cell. Current is also as the race starts. This closes circuit through the line 41, relay 44, line 46, line 49 through the trip lever 51, armature 53, line 63 to the battery 31, the line 32 being closed through contact element B on the barrel switch with wire 39 and point 42'at which the wire 41 is secured to the wire'39. This energizes the relay 44 and closes the switch 45,

Current for operating the clock passes through the line 61 to the clock drive magnet to operate the timing clock. As soon as the switch is closed current may flow through the line 41, the relay 44, the switch 45 and back through the line 61 through the line 63 to the battery 31. The coil 44 is therefore energized independently of the closed circuit through-the gate or' pistol. Current will also flow from the battery 31 through the line 32, the contact 37, the wire 57, the coil 55, the line 47, the switch 45, the line 61, back through the line 63 to the battery 31. This energizes the coil and pulls the armature 53 down,

allowing the spring 52 to move the trip lever 51 to break contact through the line 49 and to close contacts 58 and 59 so as to light the lamp from current through the-line 32, 56, 61 and 63 to close the circuit to the battery 31.. As long as the barrel switch remains in this condition the clock drive magnet will operate independently of the condition of the selenium cell. Just before the closing of the race, or some time afterthe start of the race, the barrelswitch 30 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 2, where contacts 33 and 37 only are closed. Circuit from the battery 31 then may flow through the line 32,

wire 36, relay switch 38, line 39 back through line 41, relay coil 44, wire 61 and wire 63 to the battery 31. The relay switch 38 will remain closed only so long as the light of the lamp 13 shines upon the selenium cell 15. Should this light be'interrupted for even an instant the resistance of the selenium cell which is approximately balanced against the resistance 25 is increased so that an impulse is passed through the amplifying units 71 and 72, and the relay 38 is energized to open the switch 38. his breaks the circuit through the'lines 36 and 39 and thus interrupts the. circuit through the relay coil 44.

The switch 45 therefore is open and the current to the clock drive magnet is stopped, to stop the timing of the-race.

To re-set the timing clock the barrel switch 30 is rotated until the contact D engages points 33 and 35 to close the circuit through lines 32 and 34 to the clock reset magnet, the current returning through line 61 and 63 to the battery. As soon as the clock is reset the barrel switch is turned to the off position where the contact 33 alone engages with the barrel, the other contact points being on insulations 83 and 84.

It Will therefore be clearly seen that interruption of the beam of light from the lamp 13 which shines across the track into the unit 14 will energize the selenium cell only so longas that light is uninterrupted. It will also be seen that the barrel switch 30 may be turned to the position where contact B engages with wires 32, 36 and 39, so that interruption of the light will not stop the clock. Persons may therefore pass between the light and the unit 14 until the barrel switch is rotated to the position shown in Figure 2, Where the wires 36 and 32 alone are in contact through element A on the switch.

the like, comprising electrically operated means for operating a timing clock for the race track, a switch for controlling the cir-, cult 1n said means, a second c1rcu1t for con- JOHN SAMUEL STREETER;

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in mydevice without departing from the spirit of like comprising a stationary source of light, A

means for directing the light across a portion of the race track, a receiver exposed to said light and responsive to variations therein, and an electric circuit adapted to control a clock controlled by said receiver, substantially as set forth. I

2. A timing device for race tracks and the like comprising astationary source of light, means for directing the light across a portion of said track, a receiver exposed to said light and responsive to variations in the light, an electric circuit controlled by said last named responsive device, the said electric circuit controlling theoperation of a timing'device, sub stantially as set forth. v

3. A timing device for race tracks and the like comprisin a source of light, means for directing the light across a portion of the race track, a selenium cell arranged to receive said light after it has crossed the track, a source of electric current in circuit With said cell, means for operating a clock in circuit with said cell, whereby changes in the amount of current passing through the selenium cell will control a circuit to start or stop a clock, substantially as set forth.

I 4. Ina timing apparatus for race tracks or the like, an electric circuit adapted upon energization to drive a timing clock, means responsive to light stimuli for holding the circuit to the timer clock closed, and means operative upon an interruption of the light for breaking circuit to the timing clock and stopping the same, substantially as set forth.

5. A timing apparatus for race tracks or 

